how to decomission the main AD/GC/PDC server

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim Singleton
  • Start date Start date
T

Tim Singleton

I have a server called MAIL. This was the PDC back in the
NT days, and it was upgraded to 2000. Now it is the
schema master, AD controller, GC, etc. It's the main one
and it's getting old and needs to be replaced. Maybe I'm
loosing my searching abilities but I can't find any MS
documentation on how to decomission a server like this and
move it's functions to another box. Can anyone point me
in the right direction?

Tim
 
Tim-

This sounds like this particular server is now the AD Forest Root which in
W2K CANNOT be demoted unless you plan on doing away with the domain
entirely. However, if you are still running a mixed mode domain you could
perform a synchronization on an NT 4 BDC, disconnect it from the network,
shutdown your server named MAIL then reconnect the NT 4 box and promote it
to the PDC. Then you could replace your old server named MAIL and restore
any data from backup.


Thanks
Richard Moreno
 
Look for seize roles
http://search.microsoft.com/search/results.aspx?st=b&na=80&qu=seize+roles&Vi
ew=en-us

You can transfer the PDC role using the Active directory Users and Computers
MMC.
Simply open it and then right click on the top of the tree (Active
Directory....) you then see a menu item listing operation masters. If you
click on that you can transfer roles for RID, PDC and Infratructure master.

To create addition GC you need to use the Sites and services MMC.

I found both the operations master roles and the GC information in the
windows 2000 help file loaded on my domain controller. I had to get a
refresher as it has been a couple of months since I looked at those.


If you need to force the transfer of roles then use NTDSUTIL which gives you
the ability to seize a role.
Look for seize roles on the MS website of follow this link
http://search.microsoft.com/search/results.aspx?st=b&na=80&qu=seize+roles&Vi
ew=en-us

Hope this helps
 
Are you serious? If I'm in native mode and my server
needs replacement, I can't do it? Would they really write
things that way?
 
Hi Tim-

Without having made any assumptions that's one solution. However in Native
mode domain with other DC's in your domain, you can transfer the operations
master roles to other DC's then demote the MAIL Server and replace it as you
wish.

Thanks
Richard
 
You can Transfer roles to another DC and then demote. If you demote without
transfering roles you will be in a world of hurt.
 
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